State officials announced recipients of $2.1 million in after school, summer programs

Governor Jack Markell and Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn along with several others, announced the recipients that have been selected to receive nearly $2.1 million dollars in after school and summer prevention program funds on Nov. 25.

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By Staff Reports

Sussex Countian

By Staff Reports

Posted Nov. 25, 2013 at 3:58 PM

By Staff Reports

Posted Nov. 25, 2013 at 3:58 PM

Wilmington, Del.

Governor Jack Markell and Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn along with several others, announced the recipients that have been selected to receive nearly $2.1 million dollars in after school and summer prevention program funds on Nov. 25.

The selected funding recipients will enter into contracts with the children’s department’s division of prevention and behavioral health services. Three of the 12 organizations will have programs running in all three counties, four will operate only in New Castle County, three will operate programs in both Kent and Sussex Counties only, and two will conduct their programs in Kent County alone.

The programs that were selected to receive after school and summer prevention program funding will serve approximately 1,500-1,800 youth. Roughly half of those children are in New Castle County, 25 percent are in Kent County and 25 percent are in Sussex County. The funding recipients are: Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware; Children and Families First; The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension; Providence Service Academy; West End Neighborhood House; Police Athletic League; Courageous Hearts; DEMCO; The YMCA; Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Delaware; Delaware State University, Summer Youth Academy; The Mother African Union Church's Peter Spencer Family Foundation.

The initiative to support positive prevention activities for youth was part of Governor Jack Markell’s FY 14 Budget proposal. The General Assembly supported his budget request with $2.2 million as part of DSCYF’s budget for after school programs this session. This is the second round of funding allocated under the budget initiative. In September, a small portion of the budget was distributed to 13 organizations in the form of mini grants.

Applicants for the remainder of the funding were required to submit proposals that included evidence based practices or programs related to preventing youth violence and/or youth suicide. They were also required to include positive opportunities for youth that they might not otherwise have a chance to be exposed to. The grant recipients will be funded through June 2015 subject to continued funding appropriation in the Department’s FY 15 budget.